The New York Knicks addressed their need for a point guard and acquired former NBA MVP and No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose in a deal with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
They sent Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant to the Bulls for Rose, shooting guard Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick. Rose has had an injury-plagued career, but he's only 27 and is in the final year of his contract.
"This is an exciting day for New York and our fans," Knicks Coach Jeff Hornacek said in a statement. "Derrick is one of the top point guards in the NBA who is playoff-battle-tested. He adds a whole new dynamic to our roster and immediately elevates our backcourt."
Knicks President Phil Jackson has wanted to upgrade the point guard position and Rose does that, provided he can stay healthy long enough to help the Knicks end a three-year playoff drought.
Rose has been an explosive player and can get to the basket against anyone, but injuries have slowed him the past several years.
He's missed 162 games the past five years, including one full season, after tearing his left ACL and needing subsequent surgeries on both knees.
Rose appeared in 66 games last season -- his most since his 2010-11 MVP campaign -- and averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists. He is owed $21 million in the final year of his contract.
"Derrick has meant a lot to this organization and to this city and to this team and has had to overcome a lot over the years with all the injuries to get back to the point he was," Bulls General Manager Gar Forman said. "But in putting our plan together, we felt as a first step this really made sense for us."
Pairing Rose with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis gives the Knicks more weapons offensively, whether they're in the triangle or playing the pick-and-roll that Hornacek is expected to integrate into the system.
The former University of Memphis standout has career averages of 19.7 points and 6.2 assists. He led the Bulls to a 62-20 record and a berth in the Eastern Conference finals during his MVP season.
The point guard position has been a major weakness for the Knicks over the years.
Calderon, 34, is a consummate professional, but injuries slowed him during his first season with the Knicks, and he became unpopular with the fans from the outset. He was a defensively liability after the Knicks acquired him from Dallas two summers ago in the Tyson Chandler trade. Calderon had trouble sticking with quicker guards. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 assists in parts of two seasons with the Knicks.
Lopez was the Knicks' big free-agent signing last summer and had a good season. He averaged 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.57 blocks.
By dealing Lopez, the Knicks could pursue a big man in free agency. Pau Gasol is available and played for Jackson when both were with the Lakers. Other possibilities include Joakim Noah and Dwight Howard, who ESPN.com reported has interest in the Knicks.
The Knicks also could play Porzingis at center with Anthony at power forward. Hornacek favors playing smaller and quicker.
The Knicks acquired Grant in last year's draft. He was considered the point guard of the future, but he struggled playing in the triangle offense. He was considered someone who would do well in Hornacek's system. Grant averaged 5.6 points and 2.3 assists over 16.6 minutes as a rookie.
Holiday averaged 4.5 points for the Hawks and Bulls last season. He has played with four teams in three NBA seasons.
The Knicks also announced they waived Tony Wroten.
Hawks trade Teague
The Pacers traded one Indianapolis native for another Wednesday, sending George Hill to Utah and acquiring Jeff Teague in a point guard swap that also includes Atlanta.
While the deal cannot be announced officially, Hill's agent, Bill Neff, confirmed the details.
Atlanta receives the No. 12 overall pick in tonight's NBA draft.
In Teague, Indiana gets the true point guard it has long wanted while Hill adds defense and depth to a spot that could be in flux for the Jazz if point guard Dante Exum comes back slower than expected from a torn ACL that cost him the entire 2015-16 season.
Hill and Teague both have one year left on their current deals and each is scheduled to make $8 million this season.
Hill was a fixture in the Pacers' starting lineup after being acquired from San Antonio in a draft-night deal in 2011. After starting nine games in his first season in Indiana, where he grew up and played college basketball, he started 270 games -- including 73 or more in three of the past four seasons -- and had a scoring average in double figures during each of those four seasons.
Teague started 78 of 79 games last season and averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists. In seven pro seasons, he's averaged 12.1 points, 5.2 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
At 28, he's younger and is just two years removed from his first All-Star selection.
Sports on 06/23/2016